Supporting Non-Profits in Lincoln, NE – 2018 (January – July)

As we enter into a brand new year and look to the future, it’s a time when we examine areas of personal growth and self-improvement and set our resolutions accordingly. For many, this will include community involvement and giving back in some way or another. The same holds true for businesses and professional organizations that are planning their philanthropic efforts for the coming year. By turning good intentions into meaningful action, each of us has the ability to make a profound difference in the lives of others and in our community.

Supporting our local non-profits through charitable giving, volunteering, hosting or participating in a special event, organizing a donation drive or fundraiser, joining a movement to spread awareness, corporate sponsorship, encouraging employees to present opportunities for corporate involvement or allowing them to participate in these types of activities during work hours, or in any other way, is something that we can all do. Every little bit counts – no matter how much time, money, resources, etc. you have to give, it all adds up.

Here in the Lincoln community, we are fortunate to have a strong, thriving non-profit sector supported by the contributions of many individuals, businesses, and special interest groups. Each organization that exists within the diverse spectrum that constitutes this collective has identified a specific need and made it their mission to meet it, and others have followed suit by getting on board and doing what they can to forward that mission.

With such an abundance of ways to give back right here in Lincoln, deciding where to focus your efforts can ultimately prove to be a tough call. To that end, a good starting point is going with your gut and seeking out opportunities that align with causes you’re most passionate about. That being said, it is important to understand that non-profits vary in how they are structured. Be sure to do your research before making the commitment to support a particular organization. Transparency is highly regarded in the non-profit sector, so even spending just a few minutes online or making a phone call to confirm how funds are being allocated will ensure you are making the most of what you have to offer, and that they are too.

Beyond what you commit to doing in the coming year at the present time, we encourage you to be on the lookout throughout the year for ways you can get involved. There are always announcements being made as needs arise or as new programs and initiatives are developed and introduced. Along with your participation, your agency in helping to spread the word and promote awareness is yet another way you can show your support.

As you think about the various ways in which you can play a part in the big picture, keep in mind the famous words of Anne Frank: “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before beginning to improve the world.” For ideas and inspiration on what you can do to support the valuable work going on every day to improve our little part of the world and beyond, look no further than the group of non-profits we are featuring this month.

We have compiled a list of non-profits right here in our community, some of which may be familiar and others that may be new to you – but all of which need and welcome your support. If you’re reading this, we encourage you to get involved with the ones that speak to you, whether it’s a team or solo mission. Lincoln is a better place because of the value we place on giving back here, but it takes consistent effort from each and every one of us to make the difference we want to see here at the community level and in the world.

(Click on a thumbnail below to jump to an organization or continue scrolling to read about each)

Child Guidance Center (CGC) (www.child-guidance.org) inspires healthy futures for children and families through comprehensive behavioral and mental health services. Last year, Child Guidance Center served 1,666 children and adults through a variety of programs including our three main program areas which include Outpatient Services and Outpatient Services-Schools; the Therapeutic Group Home; and the Extended Day Treatment program. New this year is our Parent Program.

The Outpatient Services and the Extended Day Treatment Program operate out of our offices at 25th and O Streets. In addition, therapists provide counseling within 16 Lincoln Public Schools and substance abuse awareness and prevention in three schools. We provide therapeutic consultation at Don Sherrill and Nuernberger Education Centers. CGC also provides community-based evaluations, and risk assessments and transitional counseling at the Juvenile Detention Center.

For more information about CGC programs or to make a donation, go to www.child-guidance.org or call (402) 475-7666.

Bright Lights (BrightLights.org) serves elementary and middle school students by providing energized, engaging and fun summer learning opportunities. Our half-day classes and full-day camps allow students to learn and create, master new skills and build new relationships. Curriculums are STEAM based and class topics include science, technology, math, art, literature and music. Our goal at Bright Lights is to promote the habit of life-long learning while having fun and making friends.

The program weeks for Summer 2018, are June 4-8; June 11-15; June 18-22; June 25-29 and July 9-13.

The Bright Lights class schedule comes out in late February and registration this year begins on Saturday, March 24 at BrightLights.org. Before Care, Lunch Care and bus transportation is available at some class locations. Need-based scholarships are available to students and an international experience is also available for middle school students. Find out more about these opportunities at BrightLights.org.

Not all children are lucky enough to have lives free of abuse or neglect. Some become involved in the juvenile court system through no fault of their own. Court Appointed Special Advocates or CASA for Lancaster County (www.casa4lancaster.org), a local not-for-profit organization, recruits, trains and supports community volunteers who advocate on behalf of abused, neglected, truant, or ungovernable children in Juvenile Court. CASA volunteers do their own investigation and report their findings directly to the judge. CASA volunteers provide a voice for children in court, expedite permanency, and ensure that children have safe permanent homes.

To donate, volunteer or for more information, please contact CASA for Lancaster County at (402) 474-5161 or www.casa4lancaster.org.

Goodwill Industries Serving Southeast Nebraska, Inc. (www.lincolngoodwill.org) has been strengthening the Lincoln community for more than 80 years by providing services for individuals who face barriers to employment and by offering residents an outlet for recycling gently used household items and clothing. The sale of donated items in Goodwill’s retail stores remains the largest source of funding for its programs and services.

Goodwill recognizes that services provided by peer agencies prepare people served by Goodwill to better succeed in Goodwill’s employment programs. It is with this understanding that Goodwill provides funding to colleague agencies to help with their own programs that align with Goodwill’s mission of willing workers employed and community resources maximized.

Prairie Gold Homes (PGH) (prairiegoldhomes.org) is a vocational education program which works with individuals who are transitioning from the Nebraska Department of Corrections to our communities. During the 12-week program, we provide training and certification through the Home Builders Institute, OSHA 10-hour and First Aid/CPR certification. Currently, we have two programming sites; one based in Lincoln and a second site in McCook. Prairie Gold Homes works with community partners in the building of homes for those communities while providing the training for the classes. We have training site builds in McCook, Lincoln and Beatrice. Class size ranges from 8-12 individuals chosen from different Nebraska Department of Corrections institutions.

PGH works with community employers to secure entry-level positions for successful graduates. This is one of the big differences with the PGH program. We provide support to our students as they transition back to their families and communities.

People’s City Mission (www.peoplescitymission.org) was founded in 1907 and serves as Lincoln’s primary homeless shelter. PCM provides emergency housing for nearly 350 homeless men, women, and children every night of the year. Its Help Center offers free food, clothing and household items to over 22,000 people with incomes below 200% of the U.S. poverty line. The PCM Free Medical Clinic offers a wide range of free health services to uninsured Lancaster County residents. Last year this clinic experienced almost 18,000 patient visits, making it the third largest free clinic in the country. PCM is helping more than 30,000 individuals each year with its various services, or about 1 in 9 Lincoln residents. PCM receives most of its funding from public donations and has Charity Navigator’s highest rating of four stars, getting 92% of all its donations directly to the need.

For more information, please visit People’s City Mission online at pcmlincoln.org.

Voices of Hope (www.voicesofhopelincoln.org) provides 24-hour-a-day services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, incest, stalking, and related forms of abuse. We have provided free and confidential services to victims of these crimes in Lincoln/Lancaster County for over 40 years. Our services include the 24-hour crisis line (402-475-7273), 24-hour victim advocacy at hospitals, and daily walk-in services. We also offer support groups, crisis counseling, safety planning, assistance with protection orders, basic needs, and on-campus services at UNL and Nebraska Wesleyan. We answer an average of 8,000 crisis line calls a year and provide face-to-face services to approximately 2,000 victims. Our free and confidential services are available to women and men. We are in need of financial donations, gift cards, gas cards, and donations of basic needs items such as personal hygiene items, household items, diapers and wipes, and office supplies. For more information, visit our website at www.voicesofhopelincoln.org.

Diabetes Education Center of the Midlands (DECM; diabetes-education.com) is a community-based, non-profit agency established in 1984 to help those with diabetes live more productive and fulfilling lives while helping to constrain diabetes related health care costs. It was the first program in Nebraska to be recognized by the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

In response to the growing diabetes epidemic and the related rising health care spend faced by employers, DECM has introduced Dia-Tec Cloud.

For less than the cost of one box of test strips each month, employees receive unlimited testing supplies, 24/7 real-time support from Certified Diabetes Educators, online education and training. It reinforces positive behavior change to prevent complications, improve productivity and quality of life.

Childhood cancer is severely underfunded and misunderstood. Cancer is the #1 cause of death by disease among children, yet only 4% of the National Cancer Institute’s budget is dedicated to researching childhood cancer. And while over 60% of adult cancer research is paid for by big pharmaceutical companies, they don’t even give 1% to childhood cancer research due to low profits. A cure for childhood cancer will be funded by small, private groups like Sammy’s Superheroes Foundation. Sammy’s is a Nebraska-based 501c3 non-profit which funds researchers who are doing groundbreaking, innovative work that will lead to modern treatments that will save and have less debilitating side effects for these sweet little fighters. Sammy’s main mission is to raise funds for research, but also to comfort families in the hardest times of their lives. Join the fight, visit www.SammysSuperheroes.org or find us on Facebook to get involved.

In the age of “fake news,” our job is to tell authentic stories of American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Celebrating 41 years, Vision Maker Media (www.visionmakermedia.org), supports Native filmmakers to develop, produce and distribute educational telecommunications programs for all media including public television and public radio.

We also support training to increase the number of American Indians and Alaska Natives producing quality public broadcasting programs, which includes advocacy efforts promoting increased control and use of information technologies and the policies to support this control by American Indians and Alaska Natives.

A key strategy for this work is the development of strong partnerships with tribal nations, Indian organizations and Native communities. Reaching the public and the global market is the ultimate goal for the dissemination of Native produced media that shares Native perspectives with the world.

The mission of the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum (SACMuseum.org) is to preserve the history of Strategic Air Command, the Cold War and aerospace artifacts and to inspire learning through imaginative, innovative, and inspirational programs and exhibits. The museum is not funded by any government source and relies on the community to help carry out its mission.

The museum is home to one of the largest collections of Cold War aircraft and artifacts in the U.S. Visitors can touch iconic aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft as well as learn about historic leaders and events. The museum offers free public tours, family events, Children’s Learning Center, and educational programs. The museum’s STEM programming supplements public education with field trips, camps, and monthly workshops. Looking for a thrill? Fly in the museum’s flight simulator or visit a STEM exhibit. There is something for everyone at the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum!

Just 20 minutes from Omaha or Lincoln. To check out the museums monthly events, rental spaces, or how to become a member go to SACMuseum.org!

Nebraska No Kill Canine Rescue (www.NebraskaNoKill.org) and its volunteer network of foster families have rehomed more than 500 dogs since its inception in 2010. Many of these dogs were facing an uncertain future with owners who could not properly care for them or were languishing in animal shelters, which often struggle to place dogs with significant medical or behavioral rehabilitation needs. By collaborating with these shelters as well as other rescues and successfully taking on some of the most challenging cases, NNKCR is helping Lincoln inch toward becoming a No Kill community. The organization is 100% volunteer-run and strives to keep its dogs in homes whenever possible. This allows Nebraska No Kill to dedicate more of its donations to medical care and training. The organization is actively seeking volunteers and prospective board members from the community. Find NNKCR on Facebook and online at www.NebraskaNoKill.org.

Heartland Cancer Foundation (HeartlandCancerFoundation.org) is a non-profit organization created with one belief: People with cancer should not fall behind because they struggle to afford their expenses. Our purpose is to encourage cancer patients, help them overcome financial burdens, and give them compassion so they can thrive.

Many people who come to us can’t get to their cancer treatment appointments because they have no way to buy gas. Many people can’t buy the medications and supplies they need to ease side effects. Some lose their cars, some lose their jobs. And some lose their homes.

This is what motivates us to make an impact. Heartland Cancer Foundation provides compassionate assistance so patients can heal with confidence, and get back to living a bright future. Support us in 2018 with a corporate sponsorship or through committed monthly giving. More information is available at HeartlandCancerFoundation.org, or contact Heidi Moyer at heidimoyerhcf@gmail.com or (402) 261-9974.

Junior Achievement of Lincoln (www.jalincoln.org) is building a successful future for our community, one classroom at a time! This school year, more than 30,000 students in over 100 schools all across southeastern and Central Nebraska will be impacted by our messages of financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and business ethics delivered by a community role model. Together, let’s inspire this generation to be better prepared for success than any generation in history. Let›s prepare them to take on their destiny with passion and confidence. Let›s equip them to run businesses, lead nations, make discoveries, and change our world. But most of all, let›s give them hope to see what›s possible.

For more information on how to invest in Junior Achievement of Lincoln or to learn more about becoming a classroom volunteer (it only takes 5 hours a year!), contact Alison Gottsch-Walton at awalton@jalincoln.org or (402) 467-1741.

We are Lincoln’s foundation. Lincoln Community Foundation (www.lcf.org) works with donors who all share a fondness for this community and want it to be successful forever. The mission of LCF is to provide leadership and resources to help build a great city. Our role is to help donors accomplish their philanthropic goals, support nonprofit organizations that improve our quality of life, and foster community collaboration to address challenges and opportunities.

Since 1955, LCF has been privileged to be part of many wonderful legacies by matching community needs with the passions of our donors. We serve as a faithful steward for many types of philanthropic gifts and help donors create lasting legacies of giving. With gifts of all sizes from thousands of donors over the years, the assets of LCF have grown to more than $120 million.

Make A Difference Magic is a Lincoln based non-profit that makes a difference in the lives of people in need using magic, compassion and encouragement. Make A Difference Magic has been in existence since 2011. Bruce Jacoby is a professional performing magician who felt the call to share his talent with others. Bruce visits hospitals to bring smiles and laughs to patients to make a difference in their days which also promotes healing. Bruce has also done fundraisers for families that might have experienced a tragedy or have had members with a handicap that need help.

Currently Make A Difference Magic visits patients at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital on Tuesdays and CHI St. Elizabeth on Thursdays. Bruce loves to perform for kids at either location but also shares with adults because they need smiles and laughs also. Even though Make A Difference Magic is a small non-profit it is very appreciated. Bruce hears many people say that the magic and everything that goes with it was exactly what they needed that day! Bruce can also tell when he is making a difference when he sees smiles and hears laughs from the patients and family members.

Make A Difference Magic can be found on Facebook or Bruce can be contacted at (402) 450-5160. If you would like to help financially support this non-profit, go to Razoo and search Make A Difference Magic. It will help to continue to bring smiles and laughs to those in need!

Friendship Home (www.friendshiphome.org) is Lincoln’s only safe, confidential emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence and their children. We save and change lives for approximately 1,600 victims each year by providing safe shelter and crisis services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Shelter at Friendship Home is offered in a communal shelter setting, apartments for families and transitional living. Our advocates work closely with families and empower them to become survivors through safety planning, referrals to resources, support groups and mental health counseling. Friendship Home also provides a safe environment and emotional support to children.

Gift cards for gas and groceries, financial donations and volunteers to help with special events are ways to help.

For more information about Friendship Home, visit www.friendshiphome.org. If you or someone you know needs help, call our confidential help line at (402) 437-9302.

Since the early 1970’s, Lincoln Medical Education Partnership (LMEP) (www.lmep.com) has been a leader in health care education, patient care, and research through several programs. These include the training of Family Medicine resident physicians and delivery of quality patient care through Lincoln Family Medicine Program, access to integrative medicine through Lincoln Medical Acupuncture Clinic, cancer research through The Nebraska Cancer Research Center (NCRC), educating alcohol and drug counselors via Training for Addiction Professionals (TAP), providing substance abuse services and wrap-around support for individuals and families in the Stepping Stones for Families Program, and training schools to identify and help children with behavioral and substance abuse issues through the School Community Intervention and Prevention (SCIP) program.

To learn more about Lincoln Medical Education Partnership visit www.lmep.com.

Through a growing network of ambitious people, Nebraska Community Foundation (NebraskaHometown.org) is helping local leaders unleash the abundant assets and talents within their own place to build stronger, more prosperous communities across the state. Using philanthropy as a tool for community development, NCF works with organizations and individuals every day to plan the charitable gifts and legacies that make dreams come true.

In just the past five years, donors have invested more than $128 million in Nebraska schools, hospitals, community centers, libraries, fire and rescue units, parks and recreation, youth programs and our natural environment through Nebraska Community Foundation. NCF isn’t your typical community foundation. All grantmaking decisions are made by local affiliated fund leaders in communities across the state. NCF serves over 250 Nebraska hometowns and supports 1,500 volunteer leaders through training, financial management, donor education, and planning for a brighter future.

The Haymarket Theatre’s (www.haymarkettheatre.org) mission is to enrich, educate, entertain, and empower our community through live theatre and youth performing arts education programs for all. Its vision since the theatre’s inception in 2001 is to foster, create, collaborate, and host intriguing theatre and high quality performing arts for the surrounding and greater Lincoln community. The Haymarket Theatre is dedicated to exposing the community’s youth to vast array of opportunities that can only be learned through an education and participation in the theatrical arts.

In 2018, we have an exciting lineup of youth shows, including Hairspray Jr., A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Death Star, The Murder Mystery Monster Mayhem of Manchester Manor, and Elf, Jr. Our mainstage lineup includes Noises Off, The Mountaintop, and Sweeney Todd.

CEDARS (www.cedarskids.org) has been a vital part of the community for 70 years. What started as a grassroots effort to provide safe refuge to children and youth who had no other safe place to spend the night has grown into a dynamic and dedicated team of over 200 professionals serving 2,750 kids and families each year.

CEDARS strong financial health as well as commitment to accountability and transparency have earned the 70-year-old child-caring organization a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator.

“The people of this community have long trusted the work of CEDARS,” says Jim Blue, CEDARS President. “This new 4-star rating validates the trust they have placed in us to carry out this important work of caring for the most vulnerable children in our community.”

Pediatric Cancer Action Network (PCAN) (pcanaction.org) offers assistance to reduce the financial burden placed on families of pediatric cancer patients in Nebraska. This year alone there are projected to be over 80 new diagnoses in Nebraska. Most, if not all of these families will need some sort of financial assistance along their journey and there are precious few resources available for them.

Pediatric cancer kills more Nebraska children than any other disease. It ranks second only to accidents as the leading cause of death for children in Nebraska. Nationally, Nebraska ranks 5th for incidence rate per capita and even more alarming is that we have the highest mortality rate in the United States. It is a major health issue in Nebraska and shockingly few are aware of the magnitude.

PCAN’s focus is to help families pay bills and reduce unnecessary stress to the primary care givers in that family.

Theatre Arts for Kids (TAFK.ORG) is a challenging musical theatre program specially designed for the young and aspiring performer interested in learning about, participating in, and producing musical theatre. Through training, teamwork and workshops, performers gain lifelong skills as they build self-esteem and develop leadership ability in addition to building their skill base as singers, dancers, and actors. TAFK offers a variety of classes for all ages as well as voice and piano lessons.

For more information about Theatre Arts for Kids, visit our website at TAFK.ORG, call (402) 202-1087 or email info@tafk.org.

Adult & Teen Challenge of the Midlands (www.tcmid.org) exists to be a catalyst for 180 degree life change in the addict. We offer residential, 12-month faith-based programs for men and women 18 and older. This program is designed to assist individuals in gaining freedom from drugs and alcohol and destructive behaviors that accompany addiction. During the program, we also support the spouses and families of those enrolled in our program through our family ministry. Additionally, we have a substance prevention program geared toward adolescents called “Know the Truth.” We facilitate presentations in junior high and high schools and share our real-life stories of addiction and the effect it had on our lives. Our goal is to change perceptions and in turn, behavior. By partnering with Adult & Teen Challenge of the Midlands and Know the Truth you can change lives! Visit us at www.tcmid.org or call (402) 551-2322.

Fresh Start (FreshStartHome.org) is home to 24 women striving to overcome homelessness. They need our help – and yours – because of struggles with addiction, domestic violence, physical or mental health, job loss, or a combination of these. With your help and their own strengths they can overcome the overwhelming challenges to become self-sufficient.

Fresh Start provides food, clothing, safe housing, case management, and supportive services. Fresh Start is more than a shelter; it’s a goals program designed to support women who are working diligently to improve their lives by recognizing and utilizing their strengths.

Together we have given a fresh start to over 1,500 women that worked hard for a better life. Your support and generosity helps women who are building a better life and makes our community stronger!

Aiding Angels (www.aidingangels.com) is a local, 501(c)3 non-profit organization providing FREE, professional housecleaning to the cancer heroes in our community during one of the most stressful times of their lives. A clean home and environment contributes to the welfare and recovery of patients.

Brenda Schwery, local business owner of Maid To Please, has provided free home cleaning services for years through another foundation where, unfortunately, women with cancer are the only recipients. In response to an overwhelming number of requests from not only women, but also men and children, Brenda founded Aiding Angels. Now, the void is filled and the much-needed help is extended to everyone going through cancer treatment or hospice due to cancer.

For more information on Aiding Angels, please visit www.aidingangels.com or contact Brenda at (402) 434-2472.

Poverty limits opportunity. We don’t. Since 1965, Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders Counties (www.communityactionatwork.org) has been removing barriers for individuals living in poverty so that they have the opportunity to thrive. Our four impact areas are Early Childhood Education, Homelessness Prevention, Financial/Family Well-being, and Hunger Relief. Just some programs and services offered include Early Head Start and Head Start, which provide comprehensive early childhood education services to 421 babies, toddlers, preschoolers, pregnant women, and their families; rent, utility, and security deposit assistance; Weatherization, focused on increasing the energy of homes; matched savings opportunities to youth and adults; financial education; free tax preparation and health insurance enrollment assistance; housing; and free evening meals at our soup kitchen, The Gathering Place. Last year, Community Action provided over 72,000 poverty-fighting services to nearly 16,000 children and adults. Our mission is to empower people living in poverty to reach economic stability.

Center for People in Need (www.cfpin.org) is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization providing opportunities for low-income individuals and families that help them combat poverty and attain self-sufficiency. The Center offers food distribution and material resources such as household goods and supplies; job skills, training and education opportunities; English Language Learning classes (ELL) for non-English speaking clients and special assistance events like Toyland for Kids and Giving Thanksgiving. The Center is entering its 15th year of operation and serves more than 11,000 individuals annually. The POP (People Obtaining Prosperity) program helps low-income individuals advance their education with free tuition at Southeast Community College for eligible participants. The TRADE (Tackling Recidivism and Developing Employment) program helps people who were formerly incarcerated learn social and job-seeking skills and offers several training modules such as construction, computer and office skills, warehouse operations and welding. Career Fairs are held to increase employer awareness of qualified workers.

For more information about Center for People in Need, call (402) 476-4357 or visit www.cfpin.org.

At The Hope Venture (www.thehopeventure.org), we’re on an adventure to give those in need tangible hope – in the form of a backpack full of a year’s worth of school supplies, a goat for a family, water for a community, and so much more. We believe the best way to do this is linking arms with partners in India, Kenya, and Uganda to determine local solutions to local needs. We believe small acts of great love – like a kindergartener donating their tooth fairy money to buy another child a backpack or a college student foregoing Starbucks a few times to purchase a family a goat – could change the world. It’s serious stuff, but we believe our work is seriously fun. We think helping others should be a joyful thing. Because we think, a lot of the time, sharing hope begins with sharing a laugh. Learn more at: www.thehopeventure.org.

Camp Summergold (www.campsummergold.com) is a unique resident summer camping experience where girls explore science and arts learning mixed with the campfires and swimming of a traditional camp. Our mission is to bring a diverse group of adolescent girls together to explore creativity, knowledge and stewardship through arts and science based mentor-centered workshops and collective girl power. Our 2018 STEAM (combined Arts & STEM) session is June 3 – 10, 2018. Our camp home is The Leadership Center in Aurora, Nebraska, a beautiful 27-acre property with an indoor pool, volleyball courts, and air conditioned bunk houses. Camp trips include the Edgerton Explorit Center and Plainsman Museum and the awesome Aurora Aquatic Center. Each camper has the opportunity to choose one of four units of study to investigate. Program details, scholarship applications and much more can be found at www.campsummergold.com.

The mission of the Nebraska State Stroke Association is to serve Nebraskans through stroke prevention, education, advocacy, and support services. Since 1985, NSSA has been providing education and outreach on the signs of stroke and serving as a resource for Nebraska stroke survivors and their families. NSSA is a 501 (c)(3) organization. For more information, visit www.NebraskaStroke.org or call (402) 484-8131.

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in Nebraska and the leading cause of disability in the U.S.

Stroke is an emergency. Act F.A.S.T.

F. Face. Look for an uneven smile

A. Arm. Check if one arm is weak.

S. Speech. Listen for slurred speech.

T. Time. Call 911 right away and go to a hospital certified as a Primary Stroke Center.

More than 80 percent of strokes can be prevented. If you are interested in hosting a stroke awareness program, please contact us at hello@nebraskastroke.org.

The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association (www.heart.org/lincoln) is devoted to saving people from two of our nation’s top killers, heart disease (No. 1) and stroke (No. 5). Powered by millions of volunteers nationwide, the Association’s goal is to improve the cardiovascular health of Americans by 20% by 2020, while reducing deaths from heart disease and stroke by 20%. Currently, one person dies every 40 seconds from heart disease and stroke. Through events right here in Lincoln like the Heart Walk, Go Red for Women Expo and Heart Ball, that startling statistic can change.

Launch Leadership (www.launchleadership.org) provides leadership training for middle school and high school students. For more than 50 years, we’ve empowered young leaders that build better schools and communities.

Everything we do is focused on helping students find out who they are and how they lead. Then, we challenge them to think about how they can apply what they’ve learned to the real world. The result is a community infused with motivated, focused, ambitious young leaders.

Our Summer Leadership Workshop brings together over 500 students for an action-packed week of fun activities and lifelong lessons. We also facilitate services throughout the school year, including One-Day Workshops and Leadership Retreats.

Our all-volunteer staff is composed of college students, professional educators and professionals from other walks of life. Most staff members are alumni of our services, and they joined Launch in part to give help build the next generation of leaders.

Christian Record Services, Inc. (www.ChristianRecord.org) is a ministry of compassion to people who are blind. Since 1899, Christian Record has worked to improve the quality of life for children, teens, and adults who are blind by providing free programs and services. All who are legally blind (20/200 with corrective lenses) or have physical impairments that prevent them from holding a book qualify for these free services:

For over 18 years, Domesti-PUPS (www.domesti-pups.org) has been supporting people in our local, regional and national communities through the assistance of animals. From therapy dogs in the classroom motivating children to excel in their learning environment, to pet therapy visitations in nursing homes, hospitals, and assisted living centers, Domesti-PUPS pet therapy teams bring a bit of brightness through their furry encounters. Our service dog teams provide increased independence when paired with a disabled partner. These highly skilled canines can turn on lights, provide balance and mobility, retrieve dropped items, bring a bottle of water from a refrigerator, respond to medical emergencies and open doors both literally and figuratively. Some even provide life-saving measures for their disabled partners.

City Impact (www.cityimpact.org) empowers under-resourced communities through wholistic youth, family, and neighborhood development. We aspire to be the best in the world at seeing, investing in, and encouraging the unique strengths of under-resourced youth and families so that their leadership makes a lasting positive impact within their communities. Through core values of relationships, faith, strengths-based leadership, empowerment, learning/teaching, and excellence, City Impact encourages transformation from the inside out.

Mentor, Teach, Empower, Transform

Needs: Monthly mentors, weekly reading tutors during the school year, weekly faith program volunteers, sponsors or donations for kids store, and monthly program supporters.

Coming Soon: Look for our new Scheel’s Gym & Fitness Center to be completed in summer of 2018!

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that strikes both children and adults. It has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. There is nothing you can do to prevent it. And, at present, there is no cure.

In T1D, your pancreas stops producing insulin—a hormone the body needs to get energy from food. This means a process your body does naturally and automatically becomes something that requires your daily attention and manual intervention. You must constantly monitor your blood-sugar level, inject or infuse insulin through a pump, and carefully balance these insulin doses with your eating and activity 24/7.

JDRF (www.jdrf.org) works every day to change the reality of this disease for millions of people by funding research, advocating for government support of research and new therapies, ensuring new therapies come to market and supporting those impacted by T1D.

Together, we will turn Type One into Type None. To learn more, please contact the Lincoln and Greater Nebraska Chapter at (402) 484-8300 or Lincoln@jdrf.org.

“I’ve never been asked.” That’s the number one reason why people don’t donate blood. Today, the Nebraska Community Blood Bank (NCBB.ORG) is asking you to donate blood to help save lives. Every 2 seconds someone needs blood. The rarest blood type is the one that’s not available when a patient is in need. That need is constant. Nebraska Community Blood Bank has been connecting people who need life-saving blood with generous volunteer donors for 50 years. We provide life-saving blood to healthcare facilities throughout southeast Nebraska. Be part of our life-saving mission by becoming a blood donor with Nebraska Community Blood Bank today.

Visit NCBB.ORG to learn more about hosting a blood drive or to sign up to donate blood at a donor center or blood drive near you. Connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter (@NCBBLincoln).

Radio Talking Book Service (RTBS) (www.RTBS.org), founded in 1974, serves the state of Nebraska and southwest Iowa by providing human-voiced print information for individuals with visual or physical disabilities which prevent them from reading print material. We are in our 43rd year of bringing the printed word to life through our key programs: Radio Talking Book Network, a statewide radio reading service; and Listening Link, an educational reading program.

Radio Talking Book Network provides immediate access to daily printed news and information through the reading of 10 regional newspapers, 75 periodicals and magazines, and books. RTBS’s weekly program schedule includes a live reading of the Omaha World Herald and Lincoln Journal Star seven days a week, the Wall Street Journal five days a week, and newspapers from Council Bluffs, Columbus, Norfolk, North Platte, Fremont, Grand Island and Scottsbluff are read weekly.

For more information or to become a volunteer reader please visit us at www.RTBS.org or call (402) 572-3003.

With a dedicated and united front of staff and volunteers who help the homeless and near homeless find possibilities when things seem impossible, the vision of Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach (www.mtko.org) is to defeat hunger & homelessness and restore hope! Serving lunch and dinner seven days a week, Matt Talbot is an inviting hunger relief and outreach center for those in need. Annually, Matt Talbot provides more than 100,000 nutritious meals and 25,000 homeless prevention services to the working poor and homeless such as housing, case management, drug & alcohol evaluations, life skills classes, nutrition counseling, and help with obtaining vital identification documents. Most importantly, Matt Talbot provides beyond basic needs to embolden people to have hope. Matt Talbot has maintained a 4-star Charity Navigator ranking for three consecutive years and received the Better Business Bureau Integrity Award for the nonprofit sector in 2013.

Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln (www.lincolnhabitat.org) is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization that brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Alongside future homeowners, volunteers and supporters, Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln helps Habitat homeowners achieve the strength, stability, and independence they need to build a better life for themselves and their families. To date, Habitat Lincoln has built or repaired 152 homes; serving more than 710 local individuals and 125 individuals globally in need of decent shelter. In February 2018, Habitat Lincoln will celebrate 30 years of building affordable homes in Lancaster County. More information can be found at www.lincolnhabitat.org.

The Pregnancy Center (www.support.pregnancycenterlincoln.org) is a non-profit, faith based organization located in the heart of Lincoln just off O Street. Every month over 400 young women in our community come to the Pregnancy Center for answers. These women desperately need our love and support. Many of them are afraid and feel like they have no options. The Pregnancy Center offers complete information about every option available to a woman facing an unintended pregnancy. The Pregnancy Center also provides confidential counsel, pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, materials support, parenting classes and character-based relationship education in schools all at no cost to our clients or taxpayers.

At CBMC (Lincoln.CBMC.com), our aim is to equip Christian leaders in the Lincoln marketplace; to help business owners and professionals to lead lives and businesses in ways that honor God.

Through our Marketplace Ambassador Initiative, we reach those who want to learn what it means to have a relationship with Christ, and those who want to deepen in their faith and have intentional influence for Christ. We host:

Outreach events, business networking, One-to-One meetings

Small group studies revolving around leadership and integrity

Mentoring

Our Leadership Institute is geared toward business leaders and owners, challenging each other and growing together. Peer Advisory Groups (PAGs) meet monthly and are led by trained facilitators. It is a time for study, accountability, and fellowship.

Lincoln TeamMates (LincolnTeamMates.org/SB), a school-based mentoring program, gives community members a chance to positively impact their community’s future. Mentors meet with their student at school for one hour a week during the school day. Mentors act as role models, building a relationship with their mentees that offers hope and a positive vision for the students’ life paths. The program works to help students graduate and pursue post-secondary education or career training. More than 95% of Lincoln TeamMates graduates in the past four years planned to attend a post-secondary institution.

TeamMates appreciates the many Lincoln businesses that encourage and make it possible for their employees to volunteer, enhancing our community’s economic future. January is National Mentoring Month and TeamMates would like to take the opportunity to thank our mentors and their employers for all that they do to support Lincoln students. Without the countless businesses across the city that offer their employees the chance to mentor, Lincoln TeamMates would not be able to serve our nearly 1,200 TeamMates mentees. Join the industry leaders already investing in Lincoln’s future, support TeamMates today.

Go to LincolnTeamMates.org/SB to help give the gift of mentoring to a child. If your business is interested in supporting a school near you, please call (402) 436-1990.

For 125 years, Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska (LFS) (www.LFSneb.org) has expressed God’s love for all people through quality services supporting Safety, Hope and Well-Being. LFS and People’s Health Center operate the Health 360 Integrated Care Clinic, providing mental health, substance use and primary care services and holistic care for the most vulnerable. LFS provides:

Children Services strengthening families and restoring safe, happy childhoods through a continuum of care from prenatal to adulthood. Lincoln programs include Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, trauma treatment and professional support in Adoption, Foster Care, RSafe® sexual abuse treatment and Mental Health.

Community Services welcoming and providing comprehensive services to those seeking refuge from violence, oppression and persecution in their homeland, including Refugee Reception and Placement and case management.

LFS has received the Better Business Bureau of Nebraska’s Integrity Award in 2017 and 2013.

Please consider volunteering your time, sharing your expertise or making a financial gift. Other ways to support LFS include collecting items for donation such as children’s clothing and diapers.

Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) (bbbinc.org) serving Nebraska, South Dakota, The Kansas Plains and Southwest Iowa is a private, non-profit organization established in 1912. Its mission is “to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust.” Today, it is supported by approximately 9,500 BBB Accredited Businesses.

BBB accreditation does not mean that the business’s products or services have been evaluated or endorsed by BBB, or that BBB has made a determination as to the business’s product quality or competency in performing services. It means BBB has concluded that the business meets BBB Standards for Trust and has pledged to support the objectives and standards of fair advertising and ethical business practices.

Not all businesses qualify for BBB accreditation, so make sure to look for BBB’s seal that identifies the business as one that “Starts With Trust®.”

BBB’s headquarters is located in Omaha at 11811 P St. and it has a branch office at 300 N. 44th St. #100 in Lincoln.

Serving our community by promoting the dignity, independence and well-being of older adults, Tabitha (Tabitha.org) provides support for clients and their families across 28 Nebraska counties at every stage of the aging journey through exceptional rehabilitation, residential long-term care, Tabitha Meals on Wheels, adult day services, innovative living communities, home health care and hospice services.

Tabitha is your local, non-profit provider and an industry leader, believing everyone deserves to receive extraordinary care. This commitment is illustrated with our world-class, award-winning continuum of services delivered to over 2,500 individuals daily. When you have questions about your care needs, Tabitha is the Answer.

Tabitha is always looking for civic-minded individuals to donate their time talent and treasure to help us provide for our friends and neighbors. You can make a difference in the lives of local veterans, teachers, public servants, and community leaders who have dedicated their entire lives to serving others, by making a financial contribution or through numerous volunteer opportunities.

For more information about how you can help support your friends and neighbors through Tabitha’s programs call (402) 486-8509 or visit Tabitha.org to make a contribution or volunteer today!

Don’t Miss Out! This is an excellent opportunity for your non-profit to gain exposure among our readers, as well as for our readers to familiarize themselves with the needs of the various organizations and the valuable work that is going on in our community.

If you are a local non-profit organization that is interested in participating in the next SUPPORTING NON-PROFITS feature in Strictly Business Magazine, please call (402) 466-3330 or email Office@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com today!